Ledger.



No. 642,280. Patented 1an. 30, |900. C. F. BACKUS.

LEDGEH.

(Application filed Oct. 9, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Tm: 5mm urns co mms-mwa., wAsmNGToN, n. c.

il STATES PATEN Gerlos.

CHARLES F. BACKUS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LEDGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,280, dated January 30, 1900.

Application filed October 9, 1899.

To all 10700721/ t vii/(ty concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLEs F. BAcKUs, a citizen of the Unit-ed States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ledgers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention has general reference to binders, and relates particularly to the type of binders wherein an independent lockingstrip, or what will be termed hereinafter clamping-plate, is arranged between the binder-covers for the purpose of clamping the contents of the binder.

The present invention consists, essentially, in the novel means employed for adjusting the clamping-plate between the binder-covers and for locking said plate to and at different distances from one of the covers.

The invention further consists in the pecnliarconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the binder, all as more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a binder, showing the construction and arrangement of the clamp ing-plate and its adjusting and locking mechanism; and Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation of the binder.

In the drawings thus briefly described the reference-letters A and B designate the independent top and bottom covers of a binder, provided, respectively, at their rear edges with hinged strips C and D, as plainly shown in Fig. l.

E designates a series of posts arranged intermediate the strips, which are adapted to tie the covers together at a xed distance apart.

In order that the capacity of the binder may be increased when desired, I form these posts of a multiple ot' sections, such as c, each being provided at its bottom with a screwthreaded extension b and in its upper end with the corresponding recesses c. The lower or bottom section of each post is fxedly secured to the strip D of the bottom cover, and the different sections forming the post are screwed into each other, as shown. The

hinged strip ot the top cover of the binder is Serial No. '733,050l (No model.)

provided with countersunk holes d, adapted to receive the fastening-screws e for securing the said strip to the post-tops.

F designates the clamping-plate, arranged intermediate the covers and slidingly engaging the posts, as shown, the plate being provided with suitable apertures f,throu gh which the posts extend.

G represents the means I preferably employ for adjusting the plate and locking the latter to one of the covers.

In construction the locking mechanism comprises a threadedmpolt II, provided with a collar g thereon, and an extension in the form of a reduced portion L, projecting upwardly beyond the collar, the extension in turn being provided with a squared end i. The reduced portion of the bolt is adapted to extend upwardly within an aperturej, formed in the upper strip of the cover and centrally be tween the posts and likewise through an opening 7c of lesser size than the aperture formed within the metallic strip I, secured to the lower face of the strip C. A pin Z extends through the reduced portion of the bolt, and this, together with the collar upon the latter, forms a swivel connection between the upper end of the bolt and the top cover, permitting the bolt to be rotated, but holding the latter against vertical or endwise movement. The threaded portion of the bolt II engages within a threaded aperture m in the clampingplate.

In operating the clamping-plate a key of suitable construction is applied to the squared end of the bolt for the purpose of rotating the latter, and the plate is not only adjusted at different points from one of the covers, but is also locked to the said cover and the contents of the binder tightly clamped. j

While I have shown and described apreferable type of locking mechanism for the clamping-plate, I do not desire to be limited to this construction, as I believe I am the iirst to provide means for locking the plate to and at different distances from one of the covers,A

and am therefore entitled to protection, broadly, upon this feature. Also, while sec tional posts are described as a preferable typo in use and the said posts are shown as constituting the guides for the plate it will be obvious from the nature of my invention that any style of post may be employed that will tie the covers in the manner set forth, and that guides other than these posts may be used for the plates, or that the guides may be dispensed with entirely Without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention is-.

1. A binder comprising independent top and bottom covers, each having a hinged strip at its rear edge, a multiple of upright posts connected at their ends to the upper and lower strips, an independent clamping-plate intermediate the said covers, and means for locking the plate to, and at different distances from, one of the covers.

2. A binder comprising independent top andbottom covers each havingahinged strip at its rear edge, a multiple of upright posts connected at their ends to the upper and lower strips, an independent clamping-plate intermediate the said covers, and slidingly engaging the posts, and means for locking the plate to and at different distances from one of the covers.

3. A binder comprising independent top and bottom covers each provided with a rigid hinged strip, a multiple of upright sectional posts connected at their ends to the upper and lower strips, the post ends beingush with the covers, an independent clamping-plate slidingly engaging the posts intermediate the strips, and means for locking the plate to, and at different distances from, one ofthe covers. 4. A binder comprising independent top and bottom covers each having a hinged rigid strip at its rear edge, a multiple of upright sectional posts connected at their ends to the strips, an independentclamping-plate intermediate the strips and slidingly engaging the posts, and a threaded bolt swiveled in one of the strips and having a threaded engagement with the clamping-plate, adapted when operated to move and lock the plate at different distances from one ot' the covers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES F. BAOKUS. Witnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, H. C. SMITH. 

